Trane Sets Benchmark for Energy Efficiency and Sound Reduction

 

Stealth™ air-cooled chiller delivers reduced energy consumption, improved flexibility and performance

Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, introduces the newest addition to its air-cooled chiller product portfolio, the Trane Stealth™ air-cooled chiller. Available in the 150-300 ton capacity range, Stealth air-cooled chillers deliver an industry-leading combination of part-load and full-load efficiencies and the lowest published sound levels for an air-cooled chiller in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry.

 

At the core of the Stealth chiller’s performance is AdaptiSpeed™ technology – the integration of a direct-drive, specific-speed screw compressor, permanent-magnet motors and third-generation Trane Adaptive Frequency™ Drive (AFD3).

 

“Building on more than 40 years of experience designing air-cooled chillers, Trane engineers brought innovation and knowledge to every component of the next-generation Stealth air-cooled chiller,” said Al Fullerton, chiller product business leader for Trane North America. “These new technologies deliver superior chiller performance and reliability, equating to an extremely low cost of ownership.”

 

The chiller’s innovative compressor design delivers peak efficiency under all operating conditions. As a result, the Stealth air-cooled chiller is capable of up to12.1 energy efficiency ratio (EER), minimizing the electrical infrastructure required as well as the impact of demand-based utility costs during periods of peak operation. The design also delivers up to 20 integrated part-load value (IPLV) to drive lower overall electrical consumption and ensure energy savings across typical operating conditions.

 

Additionally, the new compact, high-performance, integrated, low-charge (CHIL) evaporator technology optimizes refrigerant flow for improved efficiency and better heat transfer performance, while using up to 40 percent less refrigerant than traditional flooded designs.

 

Quiet operation is designed into every Stealth air-cooled chiller as standard, along with two optional InvisiSound™ acoustic reduction treatments available to meet specific application needs.

 

The key to low sound levels is the combination of variable-speed compressors, variable-speed condenser fans and an integrated compressor muffler. Because variable-speed compressors and condenser fans only operate as fast as demand levels require, their overall sound levels are less than those of constant-speed units. The integrated compressor muffler reduces sound even more — up to 10 decibels (dB) when compared to the previous compressor designs.

 

For additional sound reduction, the InvisiSound Superior package adds acoustical treatments to key sound-generating components. For installations that require the lowest published sound levels for an air-cooled chiller, the InvisiSound Ultimate package features a user-selectable noise-reduction mode that can be activated to limit the maximum condenser fan speed, achieving even lower sound levels and unit operation management to comply with nighttime and weekend noise restrictions.

 

“Three available InvisiSound packages provide flexibility for our customers to meet their buildings’ unique needs,” said Todd Duncan, product manager for air-cooled chillers. “Additional design features, exclusive controls and factory-installed options save time during Stealth chiller installation and assure consistent performance.”

 

Trane controls add additional performance and efficiency advantages. The Tracer™ UC800 provides the intelligence behind the Stealth chiller and features Adaptive Control™ algorithms that respond to a variety of conditions to maintain efficient chiller plant operation.

 

The chiller’s design allows for easy integration with facilities that have specialized requirements. In the case of a power interruption, Stealth chiller’s rapid restart capability can quickly regain full operational capacity, so mission-critical applications can maintain maximum uptime.

 

Unique to the industry, the Trane true 24-pulse drive produces low harmonic distortion levels that meet the stringent requirements of IEEE 519. Its rugged design also means the AFD3 can effectively handle electrical dips, surges and other imbalances to maintain reliable chiller operation.

 

Stealth air-cooled chillers include standard features and are available with additional factory-installed options to make system design, installation and start-up faster and easier. The chillers also incorporate multiple design features for easier, safer and less frequent maintenance once installed.

 

The Trane Stealth air-cooled chiller is ideal for a wide variety of building types and sizes – both new construct and existing buildings, especially for K-12 educational institutions and data centers.

 

To learn more, visit www.trane.com/Stealth.

  

Reporters may contact: Joan Schimml, +1.651.260.4983, joan.schimml@irco.com.

Green Roof Performance Monitoring

WEB-BASED WEATHER STATIONS TRACK PERFORMANCE OF GREEN ROOF DEMONSTRATION PLOTS AT AMHERST COLLEGE

BOURNE, MA, April 4, 2013 — Amherst College in Western Massachusetts has installed a series of research-grade, web-based weather stations to monitor the performance of two green roof demonstration plots for its new science center.

The college plans to cover the rooftop of the new building with vegetation to help offset interior cooling costs, and help the four-story, 250,000-square-foot facility blend in with its natural surroundings. The building, which is estimated to open in 2018, will house the college's various science departments and programs.

Green roofs are an increasingly-popular means to absorb rainwater, provide insulation, offer a habitat for wildlife, and lower urban air temperatures. Vegetation, which can completely or partially cover the roof, is planted over a waterproof membrane. These living roofs typically include drainage and irrigation systems.

Four web-based HOBO® U30 weather stations from Onset, a Massachusetts-based company, are being used to help track local weather conditions to determine the most prolific vegetation varieties for the college's proposed green roof.

The stations, which feature double-weatherproof enclosures, are outfitted with plug-in soil moisture and temperature sensors that were installed in the roof's soil matrix at various depths. They also include sensors for measuring air temperature, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, rainfall, barometric pressure, and solar-radiation data. The units are affixed to the top of an 8-foot shade wall, from which they transmit data wirelessly to the college's computer network via HOBOlink, a cloud-based data access service hosted by Onset. This allows for remote access to data on a 24/7 basis.

"Remote access to data is key to the success of this study because it eliminates sneaker traffic from the team's office in Boston to the site on campus," said Gregory Johnson, president at Vermont-based Kilawatt Technologies and consultant on the project. "In addition, members of the design team on the West Coast can access the data instantly."

The HOBO U30 weather stations can also be configured to send text and email alerts when measurements hit high and low values that exceed set tolerance.

The weather stations are collecting data from the demonstration plots every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, for the duration of the 2012-2013 growing season. The data collected by the stations will help determine specific air temperatures, humidity levels, and moisture levels that yield the healthiest plants, and gauge how the green roof is performing.

ABOUT ONSET
Onset is the world's leading supplier of data loggers. The company's HOBO data logger and weather station products are used around the world in a broad range of applications, including building energy performance monitoring, water resources management, and ecological and agricultural research. Based on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Onset has sold more than 2 million data loggers since the company's founding in 1981. Visit Onset on the web at http://www.onsetcomp.com.

ABOUT KILAWATT TECHNOLOGIES
Kilawatt Technologies, based in Shelburne, Vermont, provides a data-centric, statistically-based, energy and environmental management program. The methods involve continuous trending and analysis of energy and interior environmental data for commercial, multi-family, and industrial buildings. Visit Kilawatt on the web at http://www.kilawatt.com.

Green Building News and Insight from iGreenBuild.com: Recycled Roof for Major Sports and Entertainment A...

Here is a good example of how recycled materials can be used to renovate a roofing system on a high use, very visible sports arena in Boston... Green Building News and Insight from iGreenBuild.com: Recycled Roof for Major Sports and Entertainment Arena

Door Hardware for Harsh Conditions

                                                                                   

Von Duprin Compiles “Harsh Environment” Suite

of Door Hardware

 

Water, Salt or High Winds, Von Duprin Provides

Products that Fight Extreme Environments

 

CARMEL, Ind., March 7, 2013 – For facilities in code-driven regions and humid, salty and high wind conditions, such as outdoor venues, coastal buildings or wet environments including pools, aquariums, water parks and zoos that require extra protection, Von Duprin has brought together a suite of products that assure buildings remain safe and secure. Products include coatings that inhibit rust and those that are designed, tested and certified to WS9827/9927 and 237 standards, which both meet the FEMA 361 and 320 building codes for windstorm resistance.

            “Harsh environments can damage exit devices and other door hardware quickly, whether the abuse comes from salt, water or excessive winds,” explains Joseph Vaida, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, portfolio marketing manager-mechanical.  “For these applications, the same door hardware that’s used in one place in the facility may not be appropriate for areas that needed to fight these harsh conditions. Therefore, Von Duprin offers this suite of hardware to fight abusive elements.”

            Exit devices exposed to extreme conditions and weather need additional protection against the elements. For these applications, Von Duprin can apply a clear protective coating to the exterior and interior of an exit device’s mechanical parts to help prevent the effects of weather or chemical corrosion, extending the life of the device. This clear protective coating improves chemical and corrosion resistance and additionally provides antimicrobial protection.

            Exit devices on the exterior of a building are often exposed to the weather. Humidity and heavy rain can find its way into the exit device and cause electronics to malfunction. By water-proofing switches, designed to function safely in humid or wet conditions, Von Duprin helps prevent the effects of humidity and rain.

            Exit devices mounted to exterior doors are often exposed to rain and other elements. Water enters the exit device and causes critical components to potentially rust or function improperly. Von Duprin can add drainage holes to assure exterior exit devices don’t hold water in the mechanism case and rust the mechanics. These drainage holes let water leave the exit device and are essential for products mounted on exterior doors to deliver long-lasting functionality and durability. 

            Severe wind and tornadoes requires a safe and secure shelter. Such extreme conditions require specialized testing to both the exit device and the total opening. Von Duprin offers certified and tested products to help keep people safe in the event of an environmental incident, providing superior protection from severe weather. FEMA- and ICC-compliant, reinforced components help secure the building and its occupants from wind and debris. Harsh environment exit devices are certified for hurricane and tornado resistant applications.

            “For a long lasting doorway that will endure through some of the harshest conditions, Von Duprin products with these harsh environment options are what facility managers challenged by such applications need,” adds Vaida. “It’s imperative that integrators and their customers specify door hardware that matches the need of each and every access point.”

The harsh environment suite of Von Duprin door hardware is available now.  More information is available at http://w3.securitytechnologies.com/Products/exit_devices/solutions/Pages/default.aspx. 

 

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About Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments. Our people and our family of brands—including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Schlage®, Thermo King® and Trane® —work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and protect food and perishables; secure homes and commercial properties; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies’ market-leading products include electronic and biometric access control systems; time-and-attendance and personnel scheduling systems; mechanical locks; portable  security; door closers, exit devices, architectural hardware, and steel doors and frames; and other technologies and services for global security markets. Ingersoll Rand is a $14 billion global business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit ingersollrand.com or securitytechnologies.ingersollrand.com.

 

Lennox’ Environ™ Coil system now available on all Energence® rooftop units up to 25 tons

Lennox' Environ™ Coil system now available on all Energence® rooftop units up to 25 tons

Dallas, TX – (January 29, 2013) –Lennox has expanded the availability of its Environ™ Coil System to 4-, 6-, 13-, 17.5- and 25-ton Energence® rooftop unit models, completing the product lineup to 25 tons. The Environ Coil System will now come standard on Energence rooftop unit models, with the tube-and-fin condenser coil available as an option.

The all-aluminum Environ condenser coil offers a significant reduction in refrigerant charge requirements, with innovative technology that helps maximize reliability and sustainability. It uses up to 52% less refrigerant than a traditional tube-and-fin condenser coil, providing sustainable savings. Additionally, the coil's all-aluminum construction results in a significantly lighter unit weight - up to 59% lighter than traditional coils - shaving a total of approximately 149 pounds, for example, from a 15-ton rooftop unit. Less brazed joints, up to 20% less compared to that of tube and fin coils, decreases the potential for leakage, increasing the reliability of the system. Finally, a mounting configuration that uses rubber inserts, provides vibration dampening to prevent damage during shipping as well as isolation to protect against corrosion. A 3-year warranty is included with the Environ Coil System.

About Lennox Industries Inc.
A worldwide leader in residential and commercial heating and air conditioning systems, Lennox Industries Inc. is based near Dallas, Texas. Deeply committed to helping consumers and businesses reduce energy needs and lessen their environmental impact, the company offers a wide range of resources for improving efficiency, including a selection of ENERGY STAR® qualified products. Lennox Industries is a subsidiary of Lennox International Inc. and is a global leader in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration markets. Lennox International stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LII." To learn more about Lennox International, visit www.lennoxinternational.com. To learn more about Lennox Industries, contact a Lennox sales representative or visit www.lennox.com.

Sustainable Lighting Made From Recycled Bottles

 

Metro Lighting Launches Recycled Glass Line Through Kickstarter

 

Berkeley, California - January 10, 2013 - Metro Lighting, a sustainable business leader, is launching a line of recycled glass lamps and fixtures through Kickstarter.com. The shades are made from clear bottle glass that is crushed, melted, and poured into molds. Metro Lighting builds the lamps and fixtures in their workshop in Berkeley, California.

 

"We designed a custom mold for lighting after we found a studio that could cast recycled glass," says Lawrence Grown, who owns Metro Lighting with is wife and business partner Christa Rybczynski. Both hold degrees in architecture. "The glass has a wonderful texture that is evidence of the casting process," says Rybczynski, "Each shade is a beautiful work of illuminated art." The shades are offered in seven colors, each available clear or sandblasted. LED light engines pair well with the sandblasted shades.

 

Metro Lighting (metrolighting.com, facebook.com/metrolightingCA) has been an Alameda County Certified Green Business since 2008. A rooftop solar array provides 100% of the energy needs for their retail showroom and manufacturing facility in Berkeley, California. The showroom features many fixtures built from repurposed items including glass insulators (from telephone poles), liquor bottles, bicycle rims and gears, and traffic light lenses in green, yellow, and red. 

 

Metro Lighting is the recipient of multiple awards, including Acterra's Business Environmental Award for Sustainable Built Environment, Residential Lighting Showroom Of The Year for Exceptional Community Involvement, and Best Green Business in the East Bay.  Most recently Metro lighting received a Berkeley Benchmarking Award from the East Bay Environmental Network presented by Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner in November of 2012.   

 

Founded in 1993, Metro Lighting creates beautiful sustainable lighting, handcrafted in California. Their design-build studio moved the world towards a zero-waste culture by providing sustainable lighting fixtures intended to delight customers for generations. Their goal is to shift the lighting industry away from disposable products made by disposable labor overseas, to sustainable lighting made by skilled artisans in the United States, as noted in the slow goods movement. Metro Lighting simultaneously provides customers with the best products while supporting local skilled artisans in California.

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For more information or high-resolution photos, please contact Christa Rybczynski at 510-540-0509 or christa@metrolighting.com, or visit kickstarter.com.

Lennox adds new high-efficiency models to Landmark® rooftop unit line

Lennox adds new high-efficiency models to Landmark® rooftop unit line

Dallas, TX – (January 8, 2013) – In order to offer customers increased energy savings and overall lower utility costs, Lennox has added high-efficiency 7.5- to 10-ton, gas/electric and  electric/electric models to its existing line of Landmark® rooftop units. Designed for use in new construction or for the replacement of an existing rooftop unit, high-efficiency Landmark® units offer customers increased energy savings and reliability, along with the flexibility of field configuration.

With the addition of Lennox' optional MSAV supply fan technology, Landmark units are up to 25% more efficient.* This factory-installed technology uses a variable frequency drive to deliver supply fan power savings of up to 61% while still meeting comfort requirements. Additionally, high-efficiency Landmark models may help businesses qualify for state and local utility rebates.

"Our high-efficiency Landmark models help businesses reduce energy use without sacrificing comfort," said Mike Ray, Senior Rooftop Unit Product Manager, Lennox Commercial. "We have also built added flexibility into our entire Landmark product line, providing installers with a solution for their needs at any job site, and customers with a unit that fits many applications."

The Landmark unit's flexible design offers more than 100 field customizable options and over 30 features designed to reduce installation and service time. This includes an isolated compressor compartment for easier, more accurate charge confirmation; a slide-out blower that offers quick belt tensioning, adjustment or replacement and easier cleaning of the blower wheel; and an accessible gas compartment that simplifies analysis and service.

These new Landmark units feature the Environ™ Coil System, which helps makes the unit easier to service and clean—a single service technician can clean the coil—reducing costs associated with maintenance. In addition, the all-aluminum coil is more resistant to corrosion, increasing the unit's reliability.

Coupled with the release of the 7.5- to 10-ton high-efficiency Landmark rooftop models is a company-wide expansion to address emergency replacement markets, designed to increase speed and availability of products to the light commercial rooftop industry. Many commonly used, standard- and high-efficiency Landmark units are now stocked and available the same-day in many major markets.  These models are available to 98% of North America within 48 hours or less through local Lennox commercial warehouses and select Lennox PartsPlus™ stores. To further expedite the emergency replacement process, Lennox offers a dedicated hotline to provide contractors quotes and availability within minutes.

Landmark units are available in 3- to 25-ton gas/electric and electric/electric and 3- to 20-ton heat pump configurations, with efficiency ratings up to 13 SEER, 14 IEER and 12.7 EER.

Warranties offered on the Landmark rooftop unit include a 15-year limited warranty on the stainless steel gas heat exchanger; a 10-year limited warranty on the aluminized gas heat exchanger; a 5-year limited warranty on the compressor; a 3- year limited warranty on the Environ™ coil system and a 1- year limited warranty on all covered components.

*Part load, IEER improvement. Comparing standard 11.2 IEER system to optional MSAV 14 IEER system.    

About Lennox Industries Inc.
A worldwide leader in residential and commercial heating and air conditioning systems, Lennox Industries Inc. is based near Dallas, Texas. Deeply committed to helping consumers and businesses reduce energy needs and lessen their environmental impact, the company offers a wide range of resources for improving efficiency, including a selection of ENERGY STAR® qualified products. Lennox Industries is a subsidiary of Lennox International Inc. and is a global leader in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration markets. Lennox International stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LII." To learn more about Lennox International, visit www.lennoxinternational.com. To learn more about Lennox Industries, contact a Lennox sales representative or visit www.lennox.com.